by The Computing Australia Group | What are Mobile Apps?
Mobile apps are applications developed for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Platform-specific mobile apps are called native mobile applications. The users can download and install the apps for free or after paying money from the app store on their devices. To perform perfectly, mobile apps will need access to the resources of the mobile system, like GPS, storage, media browser and the camera function. Snapchat and Facebook Messenger are two popular mobile apps.
Pros of mobile apps:
- Mobile apps are faster than web apps.
- They can work offline and still retain most of their functionality.
- They’re easier to build.
- Since they have to be approved by app stores to launch, they are safe to use.
Cons of mobile apps:
- Mobile app development is expensive.
- It often costs more money to maintain and update the apps.
- Mobile apps usually have to be designed from scratch to make the app compatible with different platforms.
- Approval from app stores will take time and effort.
What are Web Apps?
Web apps are software you can access via the internet, irrespective of which device you use. Most web apps do not need to be installed and will adapt to all types of devices. Web apps need an active internet connection to run while their mobile counterparts don’t always need it. Microsoft 365 and Google Docs are examples of web apps.
Pros of web apps:
- Don’t need to be installed to work properly.
- They’re easier to maintain as they’re not platform-specific.
- Takes less time to build compared to mobile apps.
- Updates will be automatically done.
- To launch a web app, you don’t need approval from any app stores.
Cons of mobile apps:
- They can’t be used offline.
- Web apps are slower and have fewer features compared to mobile apps.
- Hard to be discovered as web apps don’t have a public database known to everyone.
Which type of app should you use for your business?
The answer to that question is, it depends. You should choose the type of application that suits your business goals and resources the best. The features and your target demographic are also deciding factors when you plan for a business app. Here are some questions to help you determine which app will suit your business more.
- Does your audience prefer browsers or mobile apps?
- Will the app you’re planning need features like a camera and contact list?
- Which layout suits your app more- a responsive website layout or a mobile layout?
- Are multiple interfaces necessary for your app?
- How many functions and features will your app have?
A web app will be the better option if your customers prefer browsers over mobile. But if you want to build an application that will maintain communication with the server even when it’s offline, then you should opt for a mobile application. The cost of development, time limit and monetization options are also factors you should consider before making a choice. If you need something that combines most of the features from both, then Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are the best option for you. PWAs provide a native mobile app-like user experience across different platforms similar to web apps.
Apps are quickly becoming an integral part of digital marketing. If you’re planning on building an app for your business, it is important to know the options available for you. Doing a mobile apps vs web apps comparison will help you in choosing the suitable medium for your app. However, app development is highly technical, and you may need assistance in understanding and choosing the most suitable one. If you have any queries on the different apps or need assistance in building one for your brand, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. You can contact us or email us at sales@computingaustralia.group. Our experts at Perth will be happy to guide you any time of the day.
Jargon Buster
App – An app, short for “application”, is software that allows you to do specific tasks.
Native mobile app – A native mobile app is an application that is built for a specific operating system like Apple iOS or Android OS.
Interface – A device or program that enables a user and a computer or multiple devices or programs to interact with each other.
Platforms – A hardware or software technology upon which other programs or apps are built or hosted.
